Sturgis 2022: Highly skilled workforce

In today’s world, a worker’s education and skills have never been more important in securing employment.

Terry Katz katz@sturgisjournal.com

In today’s world, a worker’s education and skills have never been more important in securing employment.

One of the seven focus areas presented by Sturgis 2022, “Highly-Skilled Workforce,” addresses the need for area workers to be trained and ready for jobs today and in the future.

Over the next 20 years, education and training beyond high school will be crucial for finding any job, officials say.

As traditional manufacturing jobs are cut or sent overseas, the available jobs will be in high-skill positions such as welding, plumbing, machining and technical careers that require education beyond high school.

Facts show a college education will continue to be important in getting a good paying job. But college is not the only path to a good job.

People with education and training after high school in trade schools, certificate/licensing programs or some college classes (but no degree) have a better chance to find a job. Depending on the field, some can even earn more than college graduates.

Andrew Kuk, assistant to the city manager, has gathered a wealth of facts and figures in trying to assemble seven focus areas.

He refers to nationwide data that shows the more education a person has, the higher their lifetime earnings. Simply having some post-high school education is worth an extra $472,000 over a worker’s career versus those with only a high school degree. A bachelor’s degree can be worth $1.5 million more than a high school diploma.

The workforce matters in attracting jobs to the community.

Companies want locations that can supply the workers they need.

Most new job growth in the area is expected to be in technical areas such as health care, science, engineering, technology, and education is a must.

Kuk notes that the problem is, Sturgis lags behind both Michigan and Indiana in the percentage of residents 25 and older who have some college or a college degree.

Two-thirds of new job openings between now and 2018 will require some post-high school education. Half will require a bachelor’s degree or better.

To bring in or create new jobs, the city must be prepared with a workforce to fill them.

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